Janet W. Astington

Janet Wilde Astington is Professor Emerita at the Institute of Child Study, Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, where she has held a faculty position since 1990.

Astington obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Cognitive Science from the University of Toronto (OISE) in 1985, after which she played an important role in the development of the field of children's theories of mind (ToM). She is author of The Child's Discovery of the Mind (Harvard University Press, 1993), which is published in French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean translations and editor or co-editor of four other volumes, including Developing Theories of Mind (Cambridge University Press, 1988) and Why Language Matters for Theory of Mind (Oxford University Press, 2005).

Astington’s research interest is in children’s theory of mind (that is, social understanding and self-reflection) with a particular focus on the role of language in theory-of-mind development. Her applied interest is in helping student teachers use theory-of-mind research findings in order to develop materials and approaches that engage children in mindful learning.

San Juan, V. & Astington, J. W. (2012). Bridging the gap between implicit and explicit understanding: How language development promotes the processing and representation of false belief. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, Special Issue on Implicit and Explicit Theory of Mind, 30(1), 105-122.